title: Successful management of a severe combat penetrating brain injury.
abstract: We report the case of successful management of a transcranial penetrating high-energy transfer injury in a 20-year-old soldier. The bullet traversed both cerebral hemispheres and lacerated the superior sagittal sinus rendering him unconscious. We detail the care received at all stages following injury from 'Buddy Aid' on the battlefield, resuscitation by a forward medical team through to prompt neurosurgery within 2 h of injury. Subsequent aeromedical evacuation and continuing aggressive critical care has allowed the patient to survive with acceptable neurological impairment after what is generally considered an unsurvivable injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Percy Military Teaching Hospital, Clamart, France.
authors.forename: Clément
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Percy Military Teaching Hospital, Clamart, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Falzone
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Sainte Anne Military Teaching Hospital, Toulon, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dagain
authors.affiliation: Burns Treatment Center, Percy Military Teaching Hospital, Clamart, France.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cirodde
authors.affiliation: Burns Treatment Center, Percy Military Teaching Hospital, Clamart, France.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Leclerc
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Percy Military Teaching Hospital, Clamart, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lenoir
mesh_terms: D055826:Afghan Campaign 2001-; D003422:Critical Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D020197:Head Injuries, Penetrating / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008887:Military Medicine / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008889:Military Personnel; D006113:United Kingdom; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult